Our flesh is prideful, arrogant, lazy, fearful and wimpy. It wants its way and often resists the change and growth Jesus has for His disciples.
Like you, we’re still growing in the Lord (and will be until we reach Heaven) and want all that He has for us on earth. He died to set mankind free and we really desire to walk away from the flesh and into all of His Heavenly provision.
11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force (With the Holy Spirit’s help, we need to stay strong and courageous to take out the enemy of the Kingdom).
Matthew 11:11-12
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (like self-pity, discouragement, depression, etc., at any given moment).
Hebrews 4:12
19 Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness (He’ll deal with our wilderness and bring you out if we’re willing)
And rivers in the desert (living apart from His liberating ways).
20 The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters (He makes His ways known to us) in the wilderness
And rivers (of living water found and discovered in His Word) in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise.
Isaiah 43:19-21
I hope the following lifts you and is clear enough to say what’s on our hearts. We hope it’s helpful.
Lately, Ann’s been getting a new vision for “Choosing Jesus Every Day.” Seems as if God’s telling her we need to find a way to reach those without hope and who are discouraged and depressed with no apparent resolve.
We’ve been talking and praying about this and this morning, Ann, started talking about it some more…
Ann was telling me about how violent the Bible is in parts. She told me she thinks we’re too complacent in our Christianity and how the Kingdom suffereth violence and how the violent take it by force. She agreed that we always need to be led by the Holy Spirit in all situations but thinks we’re being determined enough when it comes to renewing our minds or that we don’t realize the precious gift and opportunity we’ve been given when it comes to renewing our minds to God’s Word. The Word is so powerful if we’ll use it. It’s such GOOD NEWS.
I was in a little bit of a spiritual fog this morning (Ann could tell I was entering a desert or wilderness). I didn’t know it, but my wife saw it. She asked me what I was thinking. When I told her, she told me self-pity was trying to control me and that I needed to stir myself up in the Lord. She was right.
Misery loves company and keeps many of us from the strength and liberty the Lord has for each of our lives. Honestly, the love and familiarity of and with misery often keeps us from renewing our minds in the Lord. We get so used to woe and self-pity (and any other harmful strongholds and damaging thought patterns that have taken root in our lives over the years for various reasons) that we don’t really know how to grow beyond them or entirely exterminate them from our being.
On the other hand, when we stir ourselves up in the Lord, when we take Him at His Word, when He shows us something that’s harming us and how to overcome it, others will want to stir themselves up in the Lord as well.
We can’t be passive when renewing our mind. It takes Holy Spirit inspired, deliberate action. That’s why we must learn the Word.
Like David, we need to stir up the gift of salvation the Lord’s made available to us. When the Lord points out the fact that our discouragement is not from Him, but is rather an enemy attack, no matter how subtle it is and no matter how it’s framed, we can stir ourselves up in the Lord and the power of His might. We don’t have to live with discouraging and depressing thoughts. We don’t need to have those types of thoughts harming and limiting our strength in Jesus.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:31-32
Boy, I just love how the Word is alive and active helping us discern spiritual matters and setting us free indeed. It’s simply amazing. And all we have to do to be set free indeed is to be willing to keep following Jesus.
God bless,
Mark